A quote from AsiaNews, 6 December 2007

Sharia will be enforced in the facility: patients and staff will be segregated on the basis of sex with female patients treated by veiled female doctors for men as well as halal medicines and food. The initiative is part of a renewed co-operation between Russia’s Muslim community and the Russian government. […]

The administrative personnel will also be dressed accordingly to Sharia law, i.e. the doctors will only have their hands open and female doctors will have to wear headscarves or possibly hijabs. […] In addition, all medicines used at the policlinic will have to conform to Halal principles and not contain any alcohol.

The creation of a Muslim hospital is backed by Russia’s health ministry and the Mufti Council of Russia. Ravil Gainutdin, the council’s chairman, could not hide his satisfaction over the initiative. […] Mr Gainutdin said he was convinced that Russia society will accept the clinic and that the facility will contribute “to mutual understanding between nations and religions.”

In a population of about 140 million, Muslim represent about 10-15 per cent. Co-operation between Russia’s Muslim community and the country’s political authorities has improved recently, most notably during the recent parliamentary elections and is continuing in the current campaign for the presidency. The Mufti Council of Russia has indeed promoted the creation of a movement called “Muslims for Putin.”